Staking a Claim?

Who will influence the children of the next generation?


Is it possible that while the Christian community quietly relaxes in a comfortable recliner reading the latest article on how to "Be a Christian and not Create Waves", the Islam community is aggressively establishing Muslim prayer rooms in our favorite Department Stores?

Don't be fooled. There are millions of Muslims willing to go after those "unreached people" all around the world, including Thailand! There are billions of Buddhist who still have no clear understanding of who Jesus is, or that they were created by the loving and powerful God of the universe. These unreached people aren't going to magically hear about Jesus Christ if the Christian community remains silent or cloistered away from them. Have we become too concerned with being proper, non-intrusive, or politically correct to be of any significant impact on the world around us?

How does one become compelled, to reach out, to embrace people with the Good News and love of Jesus? If we aren't concerned about such things, don't worry, our bold Muslim neighbors are willing to fill in the gap...and if they don't, the Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses are also out in full force! They aren't just visiting your local neighborhoods, or setting up shop at the corner market, they are sending their people to other lands to stake a claim. They are finding creative ways to build relationships and establish themselves in new communities. Wake up people.

Advantages to living in the Nana- You get a front row seat to the Songkran festivities!

Yesterday my roof became the perfect place to hang out after I'd had enough water activities! Six stories up on our top deck we have a very long garden hose. The hose came in handy to spray unsuspecting "passers-by" in true Songkran style! Got a lot of laughs and the guy across the way decided to do the same from his roof. Who says you have to be fluent in language to influence people- just kidding!

Songkran

The view from our front door. Across the street the crowds are beginning to gather for a Songkran water fight!

No one is safe from the water and powder "blessing", but we did have a slight advantage over our neighbors.....we put our garden hose to good work from our roof top. Look out below!

I am drenched from head to toe, but luckly I wrapped my computer in plastic before leaving the house.

What can we learn from the Thai and their Songkran Festival?

Right in the middle of heated RED Shirt demonstrations, killings and blood curses against the government....the Thai people take a three day "time-out" to celebrate Songkran.

For the next three days most of the waring in the Kingdom will come to a halt. It's such an odd thing. The atmosphere has shifted from angry fighting mobs with knives and guns...to laughter, dancing and water fights in the streets with giant plastic guns.

Maybe EVERY WARING NATION should consider such a "time-out". They should consider taking out their aggressions with giant orange and green plastic, semi-automatic water guns. It's hard to stay angry at each other when you're being chased down the street by someone in miss-matched flip-flops, a flower printed shirt and a hot pink wig!

This little guy is getting an early start to the Songkran Festival. Songkran is some what like our New Year’s Celebration in the US. Songkran is celebrated from April 13-15th. It's a three day, Kingdom-wide block party, water fight! Lots of celebrating, dancing and usually excessive drinking- not water!

Although the origin of the Songkran festival is embedded in layers of ancestor and idol worship; there are some redemptive analogies to observed in this culture. This Songkran, may the people of Thailand draw their attentions to the One, True God, who washed away all our sins and made us clean through Jesus. May they hunger and thrist for truth and come to know what it means to drink of the Living Water.

The Songkran is a time for Thai people to honor those who are older. A blessing of appreciation is given to them by pouring fragrant water over their hands and feet.

Our girls at the ministry center prepare for Songkran by gathering water, consecrating it by means of prayer and then adding some fragrant flowers. Next, it's time to gather all the "older" people- yes, as you can see by the picture below, I qualified.

The pouring of water begins. As we sit in a long row of chairs outside, all the younger women come through on their knees (one by one) and pour water on us and speak a short blessing.

Towards the end of this ceremony the water then gets poured everywhere else- Oh, accidentally down your back, on your head or with ice water etc. It is expected and all in goods fun! This is the subtle que that the water fight is about to begin! In a few minutes EVERYONE IS GOING TO GET DRENCHED.

For the next three days, anyone, anywhere is a target. If you step out of your house, chances are you will get very wet. After you're soaking wet, someone might come by and throw powder on you. Then you look like a ghost! Sorry, no Songkran photos of myself in this lovely condition as my camera is not water proof! So enjoy these photos of others getting soaked.

Young, old, native Thai or Foriegners- everyone is in on the action. School and most major businesses are closed. which is good because you can't get to work without getting totally wet!

In the North of Thailand, even the elephants get in on the Songkran action!

What is NightLight all about?

Simple and Fresh

Easter weekend I treated myself to something I really enjoy- a Thai cooking class! We shopped at local outdoor markets and were taught how to chopped, sliced, peel and prepare all of our own food in an authentic style- while sitting on the floor!

The secret to good Thai food is fresh ingredient that is cooked quickly. This includes the soups and curries. In the states we might cook a soup all day to extract the flavors, but here you crush (pulverize with a stone pestle ) many of the spices to release the flavors. We made five courses from scratch and cooked them outside on the deck. It was a really fun experience and I enjoyed every bite!

Thai people are very creative. Who would of thought it was possible to put ice cream in a hot dog bun, then drizzle carnation evaporated milk over it!

....or make donuts shaped like Sushi.